Max P3 in first practice of 2020 season

Published on 03 July 2020 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen finished the first free practice session of 2020 Formula 1 World Championship in third place. On Friday morning at the Red Bull Ring, Mercedes was quickest as Lewis Hamilton outpaced team mate Valtteri Bottas. Max trailed Hamilton by six tenths.

At the start of the session, despite a 60% threat of rain, the track is dry. First out are the Mclarens of Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris. Soon after, Max follows with his installation lap.

Norris is the first driver to clock a lap, fifteen minutes into FP1. Bottas soon takes over the top of the timing sheets, before telling his team he notices rain drops. Sebastian Vettel’s side of the garage have paid attention to the Mercedes team radio by sending the German out on intermediates. After an out-lap, the Ferrari returns to the pits to switch to slicks.

Meanwhile, Romain Grosjean reports to his Haas engineer: “I lost the brake pedal”. The Frenchman is ordered back to the pits, where he will remain for the majority of the session as his mechanics try to fix the issue.

After half an hour, heads back out for the second time. After just one lap, the Dutchman returns to the team.

In the meantime, Sergio Perez appears to have an issue on his first laps on the soft as smoke comes from the back his Racing Point. According to the team, the smoke is the result of some oil on the exhaust and the Mexican continues to lap to Red Bull Ring.

Two-thirds into the session, Racing Point heads the leader boards with both cars. Soon after, Mercedes restore the traditional order by having Bottas set the quickest lap on the soft Pirellis, followed by Hamilton who clocks the best lap of the session. Whilst doing so, both Mercedes use the DAS system.

With twenty minutes to go, Max is one of the few front runners to have not completed a fast lap. He remains in the garage with the mechanics working on the car.

Out on track, we see the first Virtual Safety car of  the season as a result of Esteban Ocon’s Renault shedding some aero-parts. The track is cleared quickly but not fast enough for Alex Albon’s flying lap to not be hindered. Max’ team mate will have to attempt another run on the soft tyres to lay down a marker.

Soon after, Max heads out for his first flying run on the soft Pirellis. His effort does not last long; on the exit of turn 1, the Dutchman loses control of the RB16, resulting in a spin. Although harmless, the lap has to be aborted.

Max’ next attempt does stick. His 1:05.418s is the third fastest lap of the morning, trailing the leading Mercedes by six tenths.

In the closing stages, Romain Grosjean makes it out in his Haas to verify his brakes work after lenghty repairs.

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Results first free practice Austria: